Clock controlled electric switch



May 10, 1955 s. l. RUSSELL, JR

CLOCK CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH :s She ets-Sheet 1 Filed March 10, 1954 fizz/anion IRusseZZ, 6/7? y 10, 1955 s. I. RUSSELL, JR

cLocx CONTROLLED ELECTRIC swrrcu 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, ,1954

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 10, 1954 m FN mm %h Q 8w 3 Kw w .11! r- 55:: 7 mfi LR I. I/ N F 7% @w u mw m m a w States CLGCK (IGN'ERGLLED ELECTRIC .sWlTCH Samuel I. Russell, Jiz, Glenview, i'll., assignor to Northern Electric Company, Qhicago, Ill., a corporation of Betaware Application March it), 195%, Serial No. 415,339

l (Ilaim. (Cl. 219-458} Electric clocks have heretofore been devised for sounding an alarm at a predetermined set time. In addition said clocks also control other electrically actuated arpliances, such as a radio, electric percolator or the like, at a preset time. For instance, a radio may be manually turned on at the time of retiring, and said radio will continue to operate for a predetermined time and then will be automatically turned off. At an optional presetting by the operator the radio may be automatically energized at a predetermined time in the morning and will continue to operate for a predetermined period. The alarm may be operated at the time the radio is energlzed or, if desired, may operate at a subsequent period. In addition, manual operation of the appliance control may also be had.

The present invention is directed to the provision of automatic switching means which, although employing some of the elements appurtenant to the appliance control, may be used to actuate an electric blanket or pad independently of the appliance and without in any wise interfering with the normal automatic operation of the appliance. That is, although portions of the appliance control are employed to automatically turn on or turn off an electric blanket or manually turn the blanket on or off, the operation may be employed without disturbing or interfering with the normal clock-controlled appliance.

The device may be employed in the control of an electric blanket, as described, an electric mattress pad, foot warmer, electrically heated sheets or the like in conjunction with any other desired electric appliance such as a radio, toaster, percolator or the like. If used F with an electrically heated blanket or other electrically heated fabric, the present device functions as a safety device in addition to its function as a control device since it automatically turns the heating device off at a predetermined time independent of any control thermostats. Hence, as is common with users of such devices, they forget to turn the device Oh when arising and frequently carelessly throw the blanket or the like in a pile wherein proper radiation does not take place. In the event of failure of a control thermostat no fires will result since the device would be automatically turned off at the approximate rising time of the user.

The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a side elevational view, looking in the direction of the arrows 11 of Fig. 2, of an electric clock-actuated switching control for a blanket and other appliance.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the switching control shown in Fig. 1.

1 tact point 2t).

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 with the parts in a difierent position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view lOOklIl" in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to those shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the parts illustrated in still a different position.

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 illustrate diagrammatically different positions of the clock-controlled switch.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 indicates an automatic switching control for an electric clock. The actual clockwork, including the motor, gears, hands, etc. are not shown, except two shafts which are essentially employed in actuating the switching mechanism. These shafts are shaft 2 which completes one revolution in sixty minutes, and shaft 3 which completes one revolution in twelve hours.

The reference numeral 4 indicates the front wall or face of the clock, that is, the face which carries the usual numerals and over which the hands of the clock travel. A shaft 5 is supported at its forward portion by wall 4 and at its rear by a supporting frame 6. Exteriorly of the wall 4, shaft 5 carries an operating knob 7 whereby said shaft may be rotated. Adjacent the rear portion of the shaft a limit disc 3 is carried which cooperates with limit stops 9 and it) to provide two limiting positions for the turning of knob 7. As will be hereinafter more fully described, when knob 7 is in one of its limited positions predetermined operations are performed whereas in the opposite limited position other predetermined operations are performed.

A supporting block lit constructe of insulating material is mounted upon the frame wall 6. Three resilient switch arms l2, l3 and 1.4 are carried by block ll, arm 13 being insulated from arm 12 by insulator l5 and arm 13 being insulated from arm 14 by insulator 16. All of the arms are constructed of a relatively resilient metal. Arm 12 at its lower portion is bent to provide a resilient contact holding linger 17. Arm 13 intermediate its length is split and the split portions at their lower ends are bent to form two spaced parallel contact holding fingers l8 and 18. Arm 14 at its lower end portion is bent to form contact holding finger 19. Finger 17, adjacent its end, carries contact point 2%. Finger 18 carries contact point 21 which is juxtaposed with respect to the con- Finger 1? carries contact point 23 and finger 18 carries contact point 21 which is juxtaposed with respect to contact point 23.

As will be hereinafter more fully described arm 13 is externally connected to a source of power; arm 12 is connected to an electric blanket or pad (not shown) and arm 14 is connected to a desired appliance (not shown) which, for purposes of description will be referred to as a radio. I

A cam-follower block 24 is secured by means of rivets 25 or the like to finger 17. A cam 26 is rigidly carried upon shaft 5 and is spaced from wall 4- by a sleeve 27 which functions as a bearing for said shaft. The cam follower block 24 and cam 26 are constructed of an insulating material which may comprise fiber, hard rubber, plastic or the like. Cam 26 carries two lobes 27 and 28 which function at the alternate limited positions of shaft 5.

Finger 17 is normally unflexed so as to cause contact Zll to be separated from contact point 22, that is, the switch comprising contacts 2% and 21 is a normally open switch. Switch fingers 18 and id in unflexed condition normally bring switch point 2i into contact with switch point 23, that is, this switch is a normally closed switch which under predetermined conditions, as will be hereinafter described, is physically maintained open.

A shaft 31 is journalcd upon a portion of the frame of the clock and is disposed substantially parallel to shaft 5 and shaft 3. A lever arm 32 is rigidly positioned upon shaft 31 and carries at its outer end a cam follower flange 33 which extends laterally outwardly from the plane of the lever arm. A substantially C-shaped lever 34 is also rigidly carried upon the shaft 31 and is spaced from arm 32, the arrangement being such that when arm 34 is rocked, arm 32 will also be rocked through the same angle. The arm 32 is constructed of a resilient metal and lever 34 is constructed of an insulating material such as fiber, hard rubber, plastic or the like.

The C-shaped lever 34 comprises at one end a contacting finger which is disposed adjacent cam 26. The lever 34 also comprises a contacting finger 36 which is spaced from the finger 35 and is normally disposed adjacent switch finger 18, that is, it is disposed above the resilient switch finger 18.

Shaft 3, which makes one revolution in twelve hours, carries a cam 37 which, in turn, carries a displacing lug 38 which cooperates with cam follower flange 33 carried on lever arm 32. As will be hereinafter more fully described, the cam follower flange occupies three positions with respect to cam 37. in one position it rides upon the periphery of cam 37; in another position, it is held above the periphery of cam 37 and above the lug 38, and in a third position, the flange 33 and lever arm 32 are offset with respect to cam 37.

It will be noted that when shaft 5 is rotated to one of its limited positions, that is, when it is rotated to its limited position clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, lobe 27 of cam 26 so moves relative to finger 35 of lever 34 as to rock lever 34 in a counterclockwise direction, and arm 32 is thus rocked in a counterclockwise direction thereby disposing flange 33 above cam 37 and out of contact with the periphery of said cam. Simultaneously, switch finger 18 is moved downwardly by lever finger 36 of lever 34. However, switch points 20 and 21 will not be brought into contact since the rocking of shaft 5 in the clockwise direction caused lobe 28 of cam 26 to laterally move cam follower block 24 so as to flex switch finger 17 away from switch finger 18.

Arm 14, externally is connected to an appliance which it is desired to operate, such, for instance, as a radio. Switch finger 18 associated with arm 13 carries a plate 39 which extends laterally from switch finger 18 and overhangs switch finger 18. 5 which caused the depression of switch finger 18 also causes the depression of switch finger 18' and, hence, contact points 21 and 23 are also separated. Thus, both the electric blanket or pad and the radio are deenergized.

To energize the electric blanket or pad, shaft 5 is moved so as to cause lobe 28 to disengage follower block 24. Switch finger 17 unflexes and point 2%) is brought into contact with point 21 which is held depressed by means hereinafter described. The movement of shaft 5 to disengage lobe 28 from the follower block 24 also causes disengagement of lobe 27 from lever finger 35. This does not permit the unfiexing of switch finger 18 since the follower flange 33 comes into contact with the periphery of cam 37 and arrests further movement of arm 32 and lever 34. Thus, the blanket is energized and the appliance is deenergized and the subsequent energization of the appliance is dependent upon the further behavior of lever 34 and arm 32, which, in turn is dependent upon the association of follower flange 33 and cam 37.

Cam 37 moves in accordance with the hour hand of the clock. In the conventional electric clock, means (not shown) is provided for effectively changing the position of cam 37 on shaft 33. Hence, the displacing lug 38 may be positioned at any phase angle with respect to shaft 3. Accordingly, when follower-flange 33 has been lowered into b'ontact with the periphery of cam 37, a controlled lapse of time may pass before displacing lug 38 comes into contact with the follower flange 33.

The displacing lug 33 has a tapered leading edge a shown at 49 in Figs. 2, 3, and 5 and the follower Hence, the movement of shaft flange is also provided with a tapered edge 41. As has been hereinbefore described, arm 32 is resilient and, hence, when cam 37 moves to bring lug 38 into contact with the follower flange 33, the respective tapered edges of said members cause the arm 32 to be displaced laterally. The lateral displacement of the arm 32 moves the follower flange away from the periphery of the cam 37 and leaves that end of arm 32 unsupported. Switch finger 18, it will be recalled, has been held in flexed position by the lever finger 36, as has been also the switch finger l3. Thus, both of said fingers unflex and lever 34 and arm 32 are thereby rocked in a clockwise direction. The unflexing of the fingers 13 and 18' cause contact points 23 and 23' to make contact and contact point 21 to leave contact point 2%. In this fashion the blanket or pad is deenergized and the radio is energized.

A lug 42 is carried by switch finger 19 and a block 43 of insulating material is secured to said lug. A bar 44 is pivoted intermediate its length upon shaft 31 and is freely movable upon said shaft. One end of bar 44 carries a flange 45 which overhangs and end of block 43 and the opposite end of said bar also carries a flange 46 which cooperates as a cam follower with cam 47.

A shaft 43 is journaled in plate 4 and carries at its extending end, a knob 49 whereby said shaft may be conveniently rotated. A segmental gear 59 is loosely mounted upon shaft 48, said gear being provided with an aperture 51 greater in diameter than the diameter of shaft 48 whereby a limited degree of lateral movement of gear upon shaft 48 is permitted. Cam 47 is pivotally secured to gear 54 by means of pivot pin 52 and the segmental gear 59 is rigidly secured to shaft 48 in spaced relationship to the pivot pin 52. A wire spring 53 is anchored at one end upon an edge of the segmental gear 53, as at 54 (Figs. 2, 3, and 5), and said wire is looped around pin 52 intermediate its length. The wire is also looped around shaft 48 and has an outwardly extending portion 55. A post 56 is carried by the clock frame and, as will be hereinafter more fully described, the extending spring is adapted to cooperate with said post.

The arrangement is such that shaft 48 may be rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 2, 3, and 5). When the shaft is rotated in a clockwise direction the teeth of the segmental gear may be brought into mesh with the teeth of a pinion 57 carried upon shaft 2. By means of the limited lateral movement between gear 50 and shaft 48 the meshing of the segmental gear teeth with the teeth of pinion 57 is facilitated. When shaft 43 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, an end portion 58 may be resiliently engaged with a spring keeper 59 secured to the frame by rivets 60 or the like.

It can readily be seen that when shaft 48 is rotated in a clockwise direction, to bring the teeth of the segmental gear 50 into engagement with the teeth of the pinion 57, the cam 47 will be so rocked as to swing bar 44 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 2, 3, and 5) about shaft 31. This movement causes flange 45 to bear upon block 43 and thus move switch finger 19 downwardly to bring contact point 23 into contact with contact point 21 carried upon switch finger 18. Thus, the appliance connected to switch arm 14 will be energized. As has been hereinbefore described shaft 2 makes one complete revolution in sixty minutes and said shaft normally rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2, 3, and 5. Thus, depending upon the degree of clockwise movement imparted to the segmental gear 5!) by the rotation of shaft 48, the appliance connected to switch arm 14 will be energized for a period of time necessary for the pinion 57 to disengage itself from the teeth of the segmental gear 50. For instance, if the clockwise rotation of the shaft 48 is such as to completely engage all of the segmental gear teeth with the teeth of the pinion 57 during the clockwise movement of the segmental gear, the teeth of the respective gears will remain in engagement for the full sixty minutes required for the pinion 57 to make one complete revolution. It will be noted that when the segmental gear St? is moved clockwise the end portion 55 of the spring 53 engages the post 56 and thus a counterclockwise resilient urging force is applied to the gear 5t This resilient force is acquired essentially by the windin-" of the spring about the pin 48 resulting from contact or" the end portion 55 with the post 56 as the segmental gear 56 is rotated in a clockwise direction. In other words, during the full return travel of the segmental gear, the end portion of the spring 53 is in flexed engagement with the post 56 and hence when the segmental gear disengages itself from the pinion 57 the gear disen'gages itself from the pinion 57 the gear together with the carried cam 47 is urged rapidly in a counterclockwise direction. in this fashion the appliance, which was turned on by the clockwise move ment of shaft 48 will remain energized for a predetermined period of time equal to or less than one hour.

If the shaft 48 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the end portion 58 of cam 47 may be brought into engagement with the spring keeper 59 and with the movement of the cam bar 48 will be so rocked as to bring contact points 23 and 21 into contact. Thus when it is desired to maintain the operation of the appliance for an indefinite period, shaft may be rocked in a counterclockwise direction until the end portion 5 5 of cam 47 engages the spring keeper 5'9. Thus, the cam will be held in its swung position and bar 44 will be so held as to energize the appliance. To deenergize the appliance, it is necessary to manually disengage the cam 47 from the keeper 59.

For purposes of exemplifying the use of the present device an electric blanket may be connected to switch arm 12 and a radio may be connected to switch arm 1 5. To commence a possible cycle of operation, the time of retirement of an operator will be considered. At the time of retirement it will be assumed that both the blanket and radio will be deenergized.

The operator may desire to energize the blanket and maintain it in the energized state until morning. The operator then rotates shaft 5 to rotate cam 26 to the position shown in Fig. 2. Thus, contact points 2i and 21 will be separated and lobe 27 of cam 26 will be so moved as to cause finger to rotate arm 34 and lever 32 in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, flange 33 will be poised above cam 37. Unless shaft 48 has been rocked either clockwise or counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 5, the radio will be deenergized.

The operator may then rotate cam 26 to its extreme counterclockwise position thereby unfiexing switch finger 17 and contact 20 thereby moves into contact with contact 21. Simultaneously, follower flan e 33 is lowered into contact with the edge of cam 37 under the influence of the flexed resilient switch finger 18. However, switch finger 18 is sufiiciently depressed by finger 36 to prevent contact 20 from breaking with contact 21.

The blanket is thus energized and if the operator desires, the radio may be energized by engagement of the segmental gear with pin 57. The movement of the segmental gear to secure this engagement rotates cam 47 thereby rocking bar 44 to bring contact point 23 into contact with contact point 21'. Thus, the radio will continue to operate for a predetermined period of time determined by the degree of engagement of segmental gear and pinion 57. Eventually, however, this time will expire and the radio will be deenergized.

Depending upon the previous phase setting of cam 37 upon shaft 3, a predetermined period of time will elapse before the deflecting lug 38 engages the follower flange 33. When this occurs, at the approximate time of arising of the operator, the end of lever 32 carrying the follower flange 33 is displaced laterally and under the influence of spring switch finger 18 arm 34 and lever 32 are rocked in a clockwise direction. This clockwise movement of arm 34 disengages finger 36 from switch finger 18 and thus contact point 21 moves away from contact point 20 thereby deenergizing the blanket. At the same time, the overhanging plate 39 which moves upwardly with switch finger 2'13 permits switch finger 18' to move upwardly thereby bringing switch points 21 and 23 into contact to energize the radio.

The radio will continue to operate until turned off manually by rotating shaft 5 to the position shown in Fig. 2 whereby the movement of arm 34 moving switch finger 18, moves switch finger 18' away from switch finger 19. Switch points 21 and 23 are thus separated and the radio is deenergized.

It will be noted that the deenergization of the radio, moves the follower flange 33 in its poised position above the edge of cam 37. Thus, although cam 37 repeats its motion if a twelve hour period, it will not function to energize the blanket until shaft 5 is again rotated to position cam 26 as shown in Fig. 3.

Of course, the radio may be turned on by the proper rotation of shaft 48 and cam 47 for either a predetermined period of time or an indefinite period of time, as desired, without disturbing the automatic setting of the blanket control mechanism.

Referring particularly to Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive, four positions of the clock-operated switch are diagrammatically shown. In the position illustrated in Fig. 6, the switch is illustrated in its normal position. This position is referred to as normal in that the switch fingers 17, 18, 18 and l) are in the position that they would occupy when not acted upon by any outside force. Thus, the normal position of the switch is such that circuit No. 1, which may be the electric blanket circuit, is open and circuit No. 2, which may be the radio circuit is closed. It will be noted that the radio is normally energized when the respective switch fingers are acted upon by no outside force.

If it is desired to deenergize the radio, knob 7 will be turned to cause the cam follower 24 to be swung by the lobe 28 of cam 26. This action flexes switch finger 17 and is illustrated in Fig. 9 wherein it will be seen that fingers 17, 1S and 18 are flexed from their normal position. Thus, the radio may be turned off.

If it is desired to energize the blanket, the knob 7 will be turned in the opposite direction which will disengage lobe 28 from the cam follower 24, thus permitting the switch finger 17 to return to its normal unflexed position. However, when knob 7 was initially turned, lobe 27 of the cam 26 rocked arm 34 which in turn rocked lever 32 and positioned the cam follower 33 above cam 37. When the knob 7 is then turned to deenergize the radio, and finger 17 has been released to its normal unfiexed position, the fact that the end of lever 32 is now supported on the surface of the cam 37 prevents switch finger 13 from returning to its normal unflexed position. Thus, the switch will assume the position illustrated in Fig. 7 wherein switch finger 18 is flexed by the contact finger 36 to close circuit No. 1, the blanket circuit, and the bridging member 39 functions to flex switch finger 18' thereby opening circuit No. 2. In this position of the switch, the cam follower 33 rides upon the surface of cam 37 and is in a position to be disengaged from said cam when the cam 37 has been rotated by the clock for a predetermined period of time. This may be the position of the switch, for instance, after the operator has retired, the blanket will be energized and the radio will be deenergized.

After the passage of a predetermined period of time, the displacing lug upon cam 37 will contact the follower 33 and disengage lever 32 from the cam 37. Such disengagement permits arm 34 to rock thereby releasing contact finger 36 from switch finger 1S and permitting said switch finger to return to its normal position. Simultaneously, when switch finger 13 returns to its normal position, the bridging element 39 permits switch finger 18' to return to its normal position and hence both switches are returned to ttheir normal position, that is, the position shown in Fig. 6.

If, during the period that circuit No. 1 is energized, that is, when switch finger 13 is flexed into contact with switch finger 17, as shown best in Fig. 8, circuit No. 2, the radio circuit, will be deenergized and if it is desired to energize circuit No. 2 at this position of the switch, knob 49 may be turned in either direction. The turning of knob 49 will cause lever 44 to be rocked and hence the contact member 45 will flex switch finger 19 into contact with the previously flexed switch finger 18. This position is shown best in Fig. 8 wherein both circuits Nos. 1 and 2 are energized. When lever 44 returns to its normal position, that is, when contact member 45 releases switch finger 19, the radio circuit will be deenergized. As has been hereinbefore described, this manner of deenergizing the radio circuit may be accomplished manually or by means of the clock driven pinion 57 which eventually releases the segmental gear 50.

I claim as my invention:

A clock-operated electric switch which comprises, four resilient switch fingers including two outer switch fingers connected to two separate electrical circuits and two adjacent inner switch fingers connected to a source of electric current, one inner switch finger being in juxtaposed relationship to one outer finger to form a normally open switch and the other inner finger being juxtaposed with respect to the other outer finger to form a normally closed switch, a clock-operated cam, lever means, a contact finger carried by said lever means disposed adjacent the inner finger of said normally open switch, means for rocking said lever means to cause said contact finger to flex the adjacent switch finger into contact with the opposed outer finger of said normally open switch and to cause a portion of said lever means to ride upon said cam, bridging means carried by the inner finger of said normally open switch for flexing said adjacent inner finger of the normally closed switch away from its normal closed position to open said normally closed switch, means carried by said cam for displacing said lever means from the cam to release said contact finger from the inner finger of the normally open switch to permit unflexing of all fingers and the return of the switches to normal position, and separate means for flexing the outer finger of the normally closed switch into contact with the flexed juxtaposed finger of the normally closed switch to close said switch While the bridging means holds the inner finger of the normally closed switch flexed away from its normal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,201,048 Moore May 14, 1940 2,512,775 Parissi June 27, 1950 2,608,082 Jones Aug. 6, 1952 2,644,518 Hertrich July 7, 1953 2,671,138 Gaynor Mar. 2, 1954 

